The current season will be remembered for a long time in South America as one of the best in years, specially in the Patagonia region. Above-average snowfall at almost every resort in Argentina and Chile led to countless powder days in some of the Andes’ top ski areas. Still, season is far from ending: a massive storm is heading the mountains and will deliver lots of snow in the next week.

Cerro Catedral, Argentina

When Cerro Catedral (in Bariloche) has snow, it is among the top ski destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. According to SnowBrains founder and freeskier Miles Clark, between August 6th and August 18th there were 11 (out of 12) powder days. Not bad!

9-day forecast for Cerro Catedral. // Source: Snow-Forecast.com

Las Leñas, Argentina

Las Leñas, a paradise for big mountain skiers, got some heavy snowfall during last week. Although wind blew much of it away, off-piste terrain was finally filled up with white stuff and opened for skiing.

Las Leñas, last Friday night. // Photo: Facebook

More snow is expected in Las Leñas on Tuesday. Furthermore, locals are still waiting for the famous Santa Rosa storm, which arrives every year in September.

9-day forecast for Las Leñas. // Source: Snow-Forecast.com

Chile

Chilean ski resorts are the winners of the season so far. Nevados de Chillan, for example, claims a base snow depth of 4,28 meters (168 inches). Even if the real snow depth was of half that number, it would still be awesome. El Colorado Ski Resort opened for the season in May 19th, followed by La Parva and Valle Nevado. The only resort that was starting to experience a lack of snow, Portillo, got another big snowfall last week.

But as we said before, winter is still here. More than 2 meters of snow are forecasted for the next days in Antillanca, Corralco, Pucón and Osorno. Considerable snow is also forecasted for Nevados de Chillán. The following graph, which can be found here, talks by itself: it is going to be an unbelievable week in Chile.